Whole Transcriptome-Based Skin Virome Profiling in Typical Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis Reveals α-, β-, and γ-HPV Infections

HPVs are DNA viruses include approximately 450 types that are classified into 5 genera (α-, β-, γ-, μ-, and ν-HPV). The γ- and β-HPVs are present in low copy numbers in healthy individuals; however, in patients with an inborn error of immunity, certain species of β-HPVs can cause epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV), manifesting as recalcitrant cutaneous warts and skin cancer. EV presents as either typical or atypical. Manifestations of typical EV are limited to the skin and are caused by abnormal keratinocyte-intrinsic immunity to β-HPVs due to pathogenic sequence variants in TMC6, TMC8, or CIB1. We applied a transcriptome-based computational pipeline, VirPy, to RNA extracted from normal-appearing skin and wart samples of patients with typical EV to explore the viral and human genetic determinants. In 26 patients, 9 distinct biallelic mutations were detected in TMC6, TMC8, and CIB1, 7 of which are previously unreported to our knowledge. Additionally, 20 different HPV species, including 3 α-HPVs, 16 β-HPVs, and 1 γ-HPV, were detected, 8 of which are reported here for the first time to our knowledge in patients with EV (β-HPV-37, -47, -80, -151, and -159; α-HPV-2 and -57; and γ-HPV-128). This study expands the TMC6, TMC8, and CIB1 sequence variant spectrum and implicates new HPV subtypes in the pathogenesis of typical EV

In silico analysis of mutation spectrum of Ehlers–Danlos, osteogenesis imperfecta, and cutis laxa overlapping phenotypes in Iranian population

Abstract Background Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (EDS), osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), and cutis laxa (CL) are three rare and heterogeneous connective tissue disorders. Patients with these syndromes have similar manifestations and unpredictable prognosis, making a misdiagnosis highly probable. Some of their subtypes are inherited in autosomal recessive patterns, so they are expected to be prevalent in populations like Iran, where consanguineous marriages are common. In the current work, a cohort of Iranian patients with overlapping phenotypes of the EDS/OI/CL and their mutation spectrum was defined. Based on this, in silico analysis was conducted to anticipate further probable genetic variations. Pathogenicity of EDS, OI, and CL variants in Iranian patients was evaluated using Web servers. A protein interaction network was created by String database and visualized using a Python-based library. The Iranome database was used to predict other genetic mutations in all reported genes of EDS, OI, and CL syndromes. Results In the EDS/OI/CL overlap phenotype, 32 variants in 18 genes have been involved. At least 59% of patients were from families with consanguineous marriages. Interaction analysis showed that COL1A1, COL1A2, CRTAP, LEPRE1, PLOD1, and ADAMTS2 have the most significant impact within the protein network of EDS/OI/CL overlap phenotype. Analyzing the Iranome database revealed 46 variants of EDS, OI, and CL genes potentially disease causing. Conclusion The overlapping phenotype of EDS, OI, and CL syndromes requires genetic testing (e.g., whole-exome sequencing) to reveal respective variants, which helps to diagnose more accurately and manage the disease more effectively. Particularly in populations with high rates of consanguineous marriages, such as Iran, genetic screening plays a crucial role in premarital and prenatal counseling to prevent the transmission of these rare connective tissue disorders